# NTSB ATL00LA059: Robinson R22 Beta, N337VH, Indiantown, FL, June 5, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 2000, 13:01 local (17:01 UTC) - Place: Indiantown, FL - Coordinates: 27.02946, -80.460922 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.0295&lon=-80.4609&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49369 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49369/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA059 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain altitude clearance during initial climb following takeoff during the commission of a crime, resulting in an in-flight collision with a tree. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) (cause) - miscellaneous, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The student pilot planned a cross-country flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Pahokee, Florida, then to Stuart, Florida, with a final destination of Ft. Lauderdale. However, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Department, the pilot diverted to the Martin County Treatment Center in Indiantown, Florida. While hovering over the facility's recreation yard, he picked up a passenger who was an inmate at the center. During initial climb following takeoff, the helicopter struck a tree, then collided with the ground in a citrus grove 100 yards from the facility's perimeter. ## Factual narrative On June 5, 2000, at 1301 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N337VH, owned and operated by Volar Helicopters, Inc., was substantially damaged during an attempted prison break when it collided with a tree during initial climb following takeoff from the Martin County Treatment Center in Indiantown, Florida. The student pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originally departed Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, at 1130, with a planned destination of Pahokee, Florida. According to Volar Helicopters in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, the student was currently receiving instruction from their flight school. On the day of the accident, he planned a cross-country flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Pahokee, Florida, then to Stuart, Florida, with a final destination of Ft. Lauderdale. Prior to departure, he received an endorsement from his flight instructor to perform the cross-country solo flight. However, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Department, the pilot diverted to the detention center. While hovering over the facility's recreation yard, he picked up a passenger who was an inmate at the center. During initial climb following takeoff, the helicopter struck a tree. Following an uncontrolled descent, the helicopter collided with the ground in a citrus grove approximately 100 yards from the perimeter of the facility, then flipped over onto its right side. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N337VH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N337VH-2013-05-21), registration cancelled 2013-05-21, S/N 2373, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 BETA - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2373 - Airframe hours: 3452 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Volar Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 3, 2000, 56 hours before - Departed: FXE, FT. LAUDERDALE, FL - Destination: PHK, PAHOKEE, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 31 total, 31 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PBI, 36 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000605007479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000605007479A), Jun 5, 2000: Robsin R22BETA, Indiantown, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Student flew to a correctional institution in martin county. This was during a planned cross-country from fxe to flt. He attempted to aid prisoner… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.